TUNNELS police have been told to hand out more £60 fines to motorists after a dramatic drop in the amount being issued, the Daily Post can reveal.
In a leaked email, Chief Inspector Anthony Tierney tells inspectors and sergeants he wants the downward trend in fixed penalty notices reversed, spelling trouble for drivers travelling between Liverpool and Wirral.
It follows a report showing there was a 50% drop in tickets between January and August this year compared to the same period last year.
Last night, motoring organisations said drivers committing very minor offences would be targeted to make up the numbers.
Tony Vickers, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said: "This is a very depressing insight into the organisation.
"There is deep-seated concern among the public that fixed penalty notices are a revenue-raising stream.
"This is the kind of action that convinces drivers that is the case. It looks like they are doing it to justify their jobs.
"It used to be the case that officers only targeted dangerous and reckless drivers but the only way they can increase the amount of fines they issue is by going after drivers for very minor infringements.
"The purpose of law enforcement is to get people to comply with the rules. If nothing else has changed then the drop in numbers would suggest that they have achieved that goal.
"The drop in figures means officers are either being very effective in their jobs or very ineffective.
"Either way, more fines is not the way to deal with it."
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